Getting up close and personal with your subjects through macro photography provides fresh new views and enhances your photo collections. Here´s a brief look at the ins and outs of macro photography along with considerations and tips.

Want a little extra oomph out of your photos? Start using the macro setting on your digital camera or invest in a macro lens for your SLR. By getting up close and personal, you’ll see the world in a whole new way and so will anyone viewing your images especially in areas such as Perth Australia.

What is Macro Photography?

Macro photography is more than zooming in for a close up. With macro photography, the photographer actually gets as physically close to the subject as possible with a goal of reproducing an image at a one to one (or closer) ratio. Because the focal length is quite short, it’s important to have a lens capable of achieving this type of magnification. Many of these techniques you can learn in online photography courses in Australia.

While purists apply the term macro to images that have a vi or closer ratio, you don’t necessarily need to get out your measuring tape and calculator to enjoy experimenting with your macro settings. It doesn’t matter what you call it if the image is stunning and one of the best ways to get incredible images is to get up close and personal.

What You Should Know about Shooting Macro Photos The depth of field at these ranges is far shallower than you may be used to. Because of this, it’s important to use the smallest F-stop possible for optimal crispness. Since you’ll be using a small aperture setting, lighting your subject becomes critical. However, a catch-n occurs. Your camera’s lens is often right up against the subject making adding light nearly impossible. You may need to compromise by settling for a wider aperture setting or getting creative with your light source.

Focusing is also critical because at this magnification, the slightest blur becomes a major distraction. The shallow depth of field can be your best friend or your worst enemy when it comes to shooting macro images. Use it to draw attention to your subject just as you would when shooting other images with shallow depths of field. Understand that you can minimize this effect by closing the aperture but doing so requires compensation in the form of more light or longer exposure times.

Since longer exposure times require complete stillness during exposure, use a tripod and a shutter cable (or timer) to ensure that the camera doesn’t move while taking the picture. If you’re using a digital camera, you will be able to see the results immediately and make adjustments as needed.

Uses for Macro Photography

Besides being fun, macro photography has a variety of uses. Imagine jazzing up your travel photos by including macro shots of the local currency or seashells on the beaches of Perth. Artists often use macro shots of flowers, fruits, and other subjects that they plan to paint. Macro photography also has its practical uses. For example, when taking a home inventory, take macro shots of serial and model numbers to further document your possessions. Selling products on eBay? Include macro images of details that either will entice buyers or inform them of the item’s condition.

The more you use macro photography, the more you’ll start seeing the world a little bit differently. Get up close and personal with your subjects and create stunning, intimate images.

Having breast augmentation comes with a lot of questions. Should I go the route of getting implants or a more natural method? Many women are now choosing to have a breast augmentation without surgery. This is because it can get rid of their problem areas as well as let them have the breasts they have always desired. Here are the benefits of getting breast augmentation by natural means.

One natural method of augmentation uses your body’s own fat. This is taken from areas where there is unwanted fat on your body. This can be your thighs, stomach, and many others areas. They suck out the fat with liposuction and then it is placed into the breast area for fuller, great looking breasts. You can find many of offices offering natural breast implants in Tucson Arizona.

One benefit of a naturally augmentation your breasts is they will feel natural. With breast implants sometimes they will not look as natural. This is because they often look stiff. Using fat from your own body helps the breasts look like you were born with them.

Another benefit is that transferring fat for a enhancing your bust nauturally does not interfere with a mammogram. Traditional implants do interfere. Mammograms are routinely required after a woman reaches the age of 40 so it’s great that they do not interfere with detecting medical conditions, such as breast cancer.

When you get regular breast implants they often leave scars. That is because they have to make open incisions in order to place them inside you. However, with a natural method large incisions are not involved so there are virtually no scars.

Not having to put foreign items into your body is another advantage to breast implants naturally. Unlike implants that were never part of your body, a natural breast augmentation uses fat that was already in your body. This eliminates the risks associated with foreign materials in your body.

One of the disadvantages of breast implants is they are often recommended to be replaced after ten years or so. With a natural breast enhancements such as found in Breast Augmentation In Tucson this is not required . This is because you are using your own fat that was already in your body before the augmentation. Changes in shape may occur due to pregnancy or gaining weight but otherwise another procedure is not needed.

Lastly, a great benefit is that you don’t have to worry about it deflating like implants. There is also no chance that it will leak since it’s not an implant but fat from your body. This is a much safer option because the material in implants can cause health issues if it leaks into your body.

There are so many benefits to enhancing your breasts naturally. These include having breasts that feel and look natural, they do not leave scars like normal implants, they don’t interfere with mammograms, you do not have to put anything foreign into your body, and they do not leak or deflate. Naturally augmenting the size of your breasts is a big decision. By looking at all the advantages you will be able to figure out if this procedure is right for you.

As a medical biller you will be given an important office position, where you will be actively contributing to the health care industry. Your job will entail a number of responsibilities and you will often be the liaison between patients, medical institutions and various insurance companies.

The job description for medical biller is best suited for an individual who can pay close attention to minute details. It will be your responsibility to complete insurance invoices, review the information and then submit these forms to the appropriate agency. In today’s medical world there are HIPPA rules about obtaining, releasing and transmitting personal information. These submissions must be done electronically and you will need to make certain that all of the data and signatures are in the correct places.

A medical billing specialist will often be found working in a physician’s office or at a large hospital. However these jobs are also available in numerous health care related facilities such as a free-standing medical clinic, a nursing home, rehab center or physical therapy office. There is an increasing need for individuals with the necessary skills to handle the billing between health care providers and health insurance agencies. Sometimes the job requirements of a medical biller and coder will be combined together.

The duties for medical billers could include the following tasks

Reviewing patient bills for accuracy

Reviewing claims that are sent directly to Medicare/Medicaid

Checking to make sure that proper payments have been received

Resolving any billing discrepancies

Checking insurance policies for any secondary/tertiary benefits

Helping patients understand their insurance benefits plan

Calculating the amount that the patient might be charged for health care services

Tracking and resolving any unpaid insurance claims

Skills needed to become a medical biller

Broad, detailed knowledge of insurance payment guidelines

Ability to do research online (regarding payment benefits)

Interpersonal skills to deal with the public

Multi-tasking capability

Computer skills

Knowledge of medical coding

Familiarity with various medical billing software programs

You should be comfortable working with computers and interacting with others. This job will require you to think on your feet. You should be organized and efficient. Much of the day you will be sitting at a desk, but you may need to file papers, retrieve necessary documents and have an eye for details.

Depending upon your employer the job assignments could even require you to occasionally function as a receptionist or help with other office tasks. The majority of the time your duties will be completely focused on making sure that the billing invoices are being completed properly and submitted in a timely manner.

Education

You should have a HS diploma or GED

Completion of a Medical Billing Training Course

An Associate’s Degree in Business Administration (ora comparable field)

Experience

It is helpful to have at least 6 months-1 year of office experience that involved working in a health care setting such as a doctor’s office or hospital.

Medical Billing as a Life Career

This field is growing at a rapid pace and offers many opportunities for individuals who want to choose medical billing as their career. In most situations this is a job with standard Monday-Friday (9-5 or 8-4) scheduling requirements.

The average salary for medical billing associates is $14/hr. Average yearly salary is $30,000-$45,000. Some jobs will include profit sharing, stock options, retirement programs and other perks.

The Latest Local News from the Rome News

Redmond Regional Medical Center earned a second place Quality and Patient Safety Award from the Partnership for Health and Accountability for the hospital’s effort to improve patient care in the emergency department, RRMC reported Friday.

Redmond competed with other hospitals in the 100 to 299 bed category.

According to Redmond:

RRMC was also presented with a Circle of Excellence Award given to hospitals and health systems that have demonstrated a sustained commitment to quality and patient safety as evidenced by not only winning a patient safety award in 2014, but by earning three or more PHA Patient Safety Awards within the previous five years.

This is the ninth year in a row that Redmond has been awarded a Circle of Excellence Award.

Redmond noticed an increase in patient volume in the ED was contributing to longer wait times.

To address the issue, daily reports were submitted to leadership.

As a result, changes were made, including the use of a self-registration kiosk, having environmental services ensuring rooms are prepared, and having inpatient units readily available to accept admitted patients.

Average wait times before a prospective patient was greeted by a health care provider after arrival decreased by a third. The percentages of patients leaving before being screened or receiving treatment was cut in half.

“We continually work to improve quality, service and patient safety,” said John Quinlivan, Redmond chief executive officer. “I’m so proud of our staff members who not only took the initiative to identify an opportunity to improve patient care, but also followed through to find the solution and make it happen.”

The Latest Local News from the Calhoun Times

The Georgia measles scare that stemmed from an infected infant arriving here from overseas is apparently at an end, with no further spread of the disease.

Earlier this month, state health officials said they identified 35 people – most of them children – as susceptible to getting measles from the infant who was hospitalized in Atlanta for the disease.

The baby arrived at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston with measles in early February. Officials said the child left the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan on a flight and eventually landed in Atlanta.

“There are no known secondary cases of measles connected to the first case of measles in the infant from Kyrgyzstan,’’ Nancy Nydam, a spokeswoman for the Department of Public Health, said Friday.

Friday was the last day of the incubation period for potential secondary cases, she said. The incubation period of measles is seven to 21 days.

There are no known new cases of measles in Georgia either, she said.

The infant was discharged from the hospital earlier this month and is believed to be doing fine, Nydam said.

Public health officials contacted 250 people overall in the wake of the arrival of the infant.

Of the 35 considered susceptible to measles, a large number were children. These people either had not been immunized against the measles or have compromised immune systems.

The infant was the first confirmed case of the measles in Georgia in three years.

Kyrgyzstan, a relatively remote and sparsely populated nation, has had “a significant measles outbreak,’’ Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, commissioner of Public Health, said at her agency’s board meeting earlier this month.

The Atlanta case was not connected to the recent outbreak of measles that originated at Disneyland in Southern California.

The CDC reports that as Feb. 20, 154 people from 17 states and Washington, D.C., were reported to have measles this year. Most were linked to the Disneyland outbreak.

Measles is highly contagious. The respiratory disease, caused by a virus, spreads through the air through coughing and sneezing.

To prevent measles, children (and some adults) should be vaccinated with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, the CDC says. Two doses of this vaccine provides 97 percent to 98 percent immunity, the highest rate for any immunization currently offered.

Children should be given the first dose of MMR vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age. The second dose can be given four weeks later, but is usually given before the start of kindergarten at 4 to 6 years of age.

In Georgia, all 35 or their families were advised to get an MMR or an IgG test for measles exposure.

Doctors at Children’s Healthcare placed the child in an isolation room upon arrival and activated other control measures to limit exposure.

The measles outbreak this year has ignited a debate about requiring parents to have their children immunized.

A recent CNN poll found that nearly 8 of 10 Americans believe parents should be required to vaccinate their healthy children against preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella and polio.

If the children are not vaccinated, most agree the child should not be allowed to attend public school or day care, CNN reported.

The anti-vaccine movement, which is relatively small but cuts across philosophical and ideological lines, has been criticized by medical authorities, who say the rise in measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases is being fueled by people who opt not to vaccinate.

All U.S. states allow medical exemptions from vaccines, and all but two allow religious exclusions. Nineteen states permit vaccination exemptions for philosophical reasons, but Georgia is not one of them, WABE reported recently.

Public Health said 98 percent of Georgia’s enrolled kindergartners have received the recommended vaccinations.

The Latest Local News from the Rome News

A Cherokee County teacher was charged Friday with second-degree sexual abuse and electronic solicitation of a child, authorities said.

Leah B. Garmany, 36, of Centre, remained an employee of Centre Elementary Friday afternoon, said Mitchell Guice, schools superintendent. Guice hasn’t had an opportunity to speak with Garmany. The incidents being investigated occurred at a residence and not at school.

The crime of sexual abuse second-degree occurs when someone, being 19-years-old or older, subjects another person to sexual contact who is less than 16-years-old, but more than 12-years-old.

The case remains under investigation by the District Attorney’s Office and authorities declined to release any more information at this time.

The Latest Local News from the Calhoun Times

Georgia Northwestern Technical College is offering a two week extension to the free GED® practice tests originally scheduled to end February 28. The tests will be available through March 14 to all current or potential adult students at one of the local Adult Education Learning Centers in GNTC’s nine county service area. The free practice test must be taken at a GNTC Learning Center.

Students who take the GED Ready® practice test will find out if they are ready to pass the GED® test, what skills they need to work on to pass the test, and will receive a personalized study plan. Students can also learn about classes and other resources to help them prepare for the GED® test.

For more information on how to benefit from these offers, please contact GNTC’s Office of Adult Education at (706) 295-6976.

The Adult Education program at Georgia Northwestern Technical College served 3,245 students and graduated 699 students with a GED® Diploma in Fiscal Year 2014. The Adult Education program at GNTC serves approximately 3,000 students in nine counties with campuses located in Floyd, Gordon, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties and off-campus learning centers in Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Murray, Polk, and Walker counties. Classes are also held in five different Correctional facilities. GED® Testing Centers are located on campus in Floyd, Gordon, Walker, and Whitfield counties.

GNTC is an official General Educational Development® Testing Center and a site for computer-based GED® Testing in partnership with Pearson Vue and the Technical College System of Georgia. The mission of GNTC’s Adult Education program is to enable every adult learner in the service delivery area to acquire the necessary basic skills to be able to compete successfully in today’s workplace, strengthen family foundations, and exercise full citizenship.

The Latest Local News from the Rome News

Rachel Garland, a senior at Armuchee High School, has been named the 2015 STAR student at Armuchee High School. Garland selected Emily Mowery, An AP English/language arts and Journalism teacher, as her STAR teacher.

To be named a STAR student, seniors must have the highest SAT score in their school taken on one test date through November prior to graduation. The student’s SAT scores must be equal to or higher than the national average, and seniors must also be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students in their class based on grade point average.

The STAR teacher is selected by the STAR student for having made the most significant contribution to the student’s scholastic development.

By the end of her senior year, Garland will have completed seven Advanced Placement courses and fifteen Honors courses. She has also maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA. She has been recognized as a Georgia Certificate of Merit Scholar, an AP Scholar, and she participated in the Governor’s Honors Program. Garland is a member of the Spanish Honor Society, the National Honor Society, and the National Society of High School Scholars. She earned a score of 2020 on the SAT.

Garland is also active in Armuchee High’s extra-curricular activities. She was a founding member and president of the AHS Key Club, member of the Student Council, in the Journalism Club, and the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes.) She has been a member of the Armuchee High Academic Decathlon team, the softball team and chorus. Garland has participated in the Hugh O’Brien Leadership Academy, Student Leadership Academy, Leadership Rome, and the Georgia Teen Institute. She has been part of the Floyd County Youth Action Team, the Floyd Against Drugs group and participated in the Floyd County Schools Student Advisory Committee.

The Armuchee senior has also been active in the community. Garland volunteers for the Rome/Floyd Parks and Recreation program and a local children’s foster care home. She is the founder of “Grammie-Cures” which provides manicures at a local senior citizens center.

Garland plans to attend Samford University or Georgia Tech after graduation and study pre-med.

The STAR program has been in existence since 1958 and recognized more than 24,000 students and teachers in Georgia. The program is sponsored locally by the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce.

The Latest Local News from the Calhoun Times

ATLANTA (AP) — State Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens says personal information belonging to millions of Georgia consumers may have been compromised in a recent data breach.

Hudgens said in a statement Friday that 3.7 million Georgians may have been impacted by a cyberattack on Anthem Inc., the parent company of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia. Anthem officials have said they discovered an attack on their IT system in late January.

Anthem Inc. officials have said names, dates of birth, Social Security information, addresses, employment information and more may have been accessed. Hudgens says investigators don’t believe credit card and banking information was compromised in the attack.

Hudgens says he encourages consumers who may have been impacted to take advantage of free credit monitoring and identity protection services Anthem is offering.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Latest Local News from the Calhoun Times

Shortly before noon on Wednesday, Feb. 25, Gordon County emergency management was dispatched to The Oaks at Fairmount, a residential living community, with reports of smoke from an unidentified source. Gordon County EMS and employee vehicles evacuated 13 residents and four employees to the Fairmount Community Center.

Battalion Chief Zevan Gilbert later commented that the cause of the smoke was contributed to a heating and air conditioning unit at the residence. Power to the unit was disconnected and the resident’s were transported back into their homes.

Gilbert commends the staff and residents of The Oaks for their swift and and safe evacuation.

The Latest Local News from the Rome News

Floyd County police have charged a man in connection with the slayings of a couple in their home on Jan. 23, according to a press release sent out Tuesday night.

Below is the release:

On 02/24/2015 Emerson Mack Abbott Jr. was arrested and charged with 2 counts of Murder in connection with the January 23, 2015 Murder of James and Myra Reeves of 49 Terhune Rd.

The Investigation was conducted by the Floyd County Police Department Criminal Investigations Division as well as The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Intelligence Unit of the GBI (GISAC -The Georgia Information Sharing and Analysis Center).

The arrest of Mr. Abbott was made without incident.

No further details of the investigation will be released in order to insure the successful prosecution of this case in court.

The Latest Local News from the Rome News

Original snowfall predictions of 2 to 4 inches have been updated to 4 to 6 inches for Wednesday and Thursday, according to Tim Herrington, director of the Floyd County Emergency Management Agency.

The area will be under a Winter Storm Warning from 10 a.m. Wednesday through 10 a.m. Thursday. A heavy snowfall is expected during the daytime hours leading into the evening — making commutes hazardous. .

Rome City Schools, Floyd County School and Darlington School are canceling Wednesday classes.

All campuses of Georgia Northwestern Technical College will be closed Wednesday

Due to the winter storm warning, ALL CAMPUSES at Georgia Highlands College will be closed Wednesday, February 25. Check highlands.edu for any additional updates.

All Shorter University campuses will be closed on Wednesday, Feb. 25. All classes and activities are canceled on Wednesday.

All locations of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest Georgia will close Wednesday.

Gov. Nathan Deal has ordered state government offices to close at noon Wednesday.

The First Preschool at Rome First United Methodist will be closed tomorrow. Garden Lakes Baptist Preschool will be closed as well.

All activities at the Charles C. Parker Center for Active Adults on Kingston Road have been cancelled for Wednesday.

Bartow County Schools, Chattooga County Schools and Cherokee County, Ala., schools will also be closed.

Rome City Schools issued the following statement:

Due to predicted inclement weather and adverse road conditions, Rome City Schools will be closed on Wednesday, February 25, 2015, for all staff and students. We will continue to monitor weather and road conditions throughout the day. A decision regarding school closures for Thursday, February 26, 2015, will be made Wednesday evening.

Floyd County School issued the following statement:

Floyd County Schools will be closed on Wednesday due to the Winter Storm warning issued by the National Weather Service. In a meeting with Floyd County Emergency Management and area public safety this afternoon, we were informed that the storm could begin as early as 10 a.m. and bring with it significant snow accumulations for Wednesday.

Schools will be closed for students and staff all day on Wednesday. Employees are asked to please not come to school to try to work a few hours in the morning, even if weather is good early in the day. We do not want anyone stuck out in a storm of this potential magnitude.

Updates on Thursday will be issued as we determine the storms impact on Thursday afternoon.

‘The Berry College men’s lacrosse game scheduled at Piedmonton Wednesdayhas been postponed. No makeup date has been set.

Floyd Against Drugs’ Murder Mystery Buffet Dinner “A Luau to Die For” has been postponed. No new date has been set, but organizers are planning for March or April.

The Latest Local News from the Calhoun Times

In response to a winter storm warning declared for 50 counties in the northern portion of Georgia tomorrow — including Floyd and surrounding counties — Gov. Nathan Deal this evening ordered state government offices in the affected areas to close at noon tomorrow and declared a state of emergency for disaster preparedness starting at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

“With forecasts showing we could see accumulation by 4 p.m., I want to make sure we get as many commuters home before then as possible,” said Deal. “While current models show that temperatures will remain above freezing, we don’t want to run the risk of having normal rush hour traffic volume if there’s snow or ice on the highways. In an effort to keep as many cars off the road as possible, I encourage people in both the public and private sector who can telecommute to please do so tomorrow.

“We have delayed the state of emergency until the time that we expect to see precipitation, but I’ve made all state resources available tonight for preparation.”

The Georgia Department of Transportation has moved 80 additional staffers into affected areas from other parts of the state. At midnight, DOT will mobilize 13 tanker trucks to apply brine to major highways. The State Patrol will deploy 174 troopers for rapid response to accidents, and it will mandate that all tractor trailers pull in to weigh stations to assure that trucks have the proper equipment for travel in snow/ice conditions. The Department of Natural Resources will place 15 strike teams across the 50 counties to aid in storm response and debris removal.

The Latest Local News from the Rome News

Sheriff Mitch Ralston announces that the National Weather Service in Peachtree City has issued a winter storm warning for most of Northern Georgia, including Gordon County, from 10 a.m. Wednesday morning through 10 a.m. Thursday morning. Accumulations from 2 to 4 inches are possible, with up to 6 inches in higher elevations. Roadways in Gordon County may become treacherous and/or impassable, and power outages are possible.

Citizens should be prepared for this storm, and have an emergency plan to keep warm and have extra necessary items on hand. Residents should be aware of their neighbors, and notify my office through E911 to check on the elderly or shut-ins. “My office has emergency operational plans in place for winter storm situations, and my command staff continues to monitor weather conditions as they develop along with Gordon County EMA Director Richard Cooper,” Ralston said. Deputies will be patrolling in fully marked storm-ready 4WD vehicles, and extra personnel will be deployed for the duration of the event. Residents are also urged to monitor the NWS and local media outlets to keep aware of the situation.